Editor’s note: This op-ed was originally submitted on December 2, 2021. The author refers to Poly’s firing of Kevin Fountaine in this op-ed; however, the school has not confirmed that Fountaine was fired. Director of Engagement and Communications Jennifer Slomack declined to comment on personnel matters. For the Polygon’s full reporting on this story, please visit polygonnews.org for Emma Spring’s article “Football Coach of 19 Years Departs Midseason.”

Along with many other alumni, I’ve been following the situation surrounding the school’s firing of Head Varsity Football Coach Kevin Fountaine very closely and read the great article that Emma Spring wrote in the Polygon. I’ve been in contact with other alumni and current and former Poly parents in the last several weeks. Everyone that I’ve spoken to has been horrified by the administration’s judgment, decision making, and handling of this situation.  

As the Polygon’s article articulated, the abrupt manner of Fountaine’s firing has been the catalyst for baseless rumor and innuendo, which has only been exacerbated by the subsequent lack of transparency and vague statements put out by Head of School Audrius Barzdukas. Among the several quotes from Barzdukas in the recent article that I took issue with, I found the following quote particularly incongruous with recent events:

“We expect our faculty and staff to teach, enforce, advocate for, and model our school’s values, and ensure that our students do their best to live up to those values…Please know that any decision to separate from an employee is taken seriously and after careful consideration.”

While he has said that he will not comment on personnel matters, the Head of School has had no problem sharing quotes like this that directly feed into toxic rumors and insinuate that Coach Fountaine did not teach or model the school’s values. Coach Fountaine is held in extremely high regard by alumni, parents, and former and current Poly faculty. Alumni channels are currently filled with discussions and anecdotes of how hard Coach Fountaine worked to instill students on the football team with values of integrity and respect, the emphasis and value he placed on academics, the care he took to make sure that everyone felt safe and empowered in the weight room and in PE classes, and the energy that he put into encouraging students in the classroom, in athletics, and in the arts. This outpouring of support raises several important questions: If the values that Coach Fountaine taught and expected from Poly students are no longer viewed as core Poly values, then what values are being taught by Barzdukas and the administration? What does it say about the culture established by this administration that students, parents, and faculty alike will only speak on the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution? What message is being sent to the rest of Poly’s faculty when nearly two decades of dedicated service and positive contributions to the lives of generations of students is rewarded with an unceremonious Tuesday afternoon termination and ricochet shots at the reputation of a highly respected educator?

Unfortunately, Poly is not a stranger to scandal and controversy. While people from every corner of the Poly community have expressed dismay and frustration at this latest unfortunate chapter in Poly’s history, I’ve been struck by the lack of surprise. Alumni have come to expect a lack of transparency and open communication in circumstances like these. In the interest of changing that precedent, I wanted to share this letter with the Polygon. In addition, over 60 alumni of Poly’s football team also sent a letter about this matter to Poly’s Board of Trustees. While the response we received echoed the non-specific justifications given by the Head of School, my hope is that these letters will contribute to the ongoing conversations in the Poly community and reflect the values of integrity, transparency, and character that were taught at Poly Prep under Coach Kevin Fountaine.